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Top 5 Handheld Cordless Vacuums Best Filtration System: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum Best Nozzles: BLACK+DECKER Handheld Vacuum Best Heavy-Duty Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum Best For Small Messes: Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld Vacuum Most Lightweight: Eufy Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Best Filtration System: BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Features a large, easy-to-empty dirt bin ✔ Has a 14-volt lithium-ion battery ✔ Features a motorized brush for removing pet hair and embedded dirt ✘ Not efficient for lifting up large debris ✘ LED light does not indicate battery life Best Nozzles: BLACK+DECKER Handheld Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Features a rotating slim nozzle that can fit into tight spaces ✔ Can fully charge in four hours ✔ Has an on-board extension that ensures you won’t need to bend over as often to clean ✘ Has a louder operation than some other similar models ✘ Some customers had issues with the battery dying after minimal use Best Heavy-Duty Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Has an extra-long crevice tool for cleaning hard-to-reach areas ✔ Features a washable filter and pre-filter for easy cleaning ✔ Has anti-tangle rubber bristles ✘ Has a higher price point than other handheld vacuum models ✘ Some customers found the suction power level to be lacking Best For Small Messes: Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld Vacuum Pros and Cons ✔ Has a compact, lightweight design that’s easy to maneuver ✔ Can be charged with a USB charging cable ✔ Provides up to 12 minutes of continuous cleaning on a full charge ✘ Has a short battery life compared to some other models ✘ Not the best choice for tough messes or an excess amount of hair or dust Most Lightweight: Eufy Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Pros and Cons ✔ Is lightweight at just 1....

We recommend reading your service contract to see which of your luxury appliances can be added to your home warranty. Pay extra attention to the fine print regarding coverage caps, which may stipulate that high-end appliances are not subject to the same reimbursement rates as lower-end appliances. If your replacement exceeds the coverage cap or reimbursement rate determined by your provider, you will be responsible for the difference. You’ll want to confirm that the coverage caps on appliances make sense for your budget....

Looking for the best mattress for side sleepers? Side sleeping is considered one of the healthiest sleep positions for your back and spine, but the wrong mattress can leave you waking up with aches and pains. Because the hips and shoulders press deeply into the mattress, hip and shoulder pain can arise on the wrong bed. The best way to avoid this is by choosing a mattress that excels in spine alignment and pressure relief so that your back is supported while the hips and shoulders are softly uplifted....

How to Attract Birds to a Birdhouse Site it right Birds that like to lay their eggs in nesting boxes prefer ones that get morning sun and have entrance holes sheltered from prevailing winds. Having a freshwater source nearby is another plus. How to Build a Birdhouse Place it high To protect nesters from marauders, including raccoons, squirrels, snakes, and house sparrows, Kress suggests installing houses on metal poles about 5 feet above the ground and 10 feet from branches or buildings....

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WHERE> Huntington Beach, Calif. WHAT> Chose this space, along with dozens of other readers, in a reader poll: “The room takes me on a faraway journey.” When it comes to outdoor entertaining spaces, striking the right balance between casual and sophisticated can be a challenge. This open-air dining room makes it look easy, blending British Colonial–style furnishings (including a caned daybed bought for only $20 at a flea market) with laid-back, island-inspired touches like rattan lamps and flowing curtains....

In the past we’ve shown you how to prep your home ahead of time to minimize holiday mayhem. But some things are just unpredictable, like spilled wine, guest-trapping blizzards, or the overeager but hapless aunt who insists on being your sous chef. Don’t worry—This Old House is here to help. We’re giving you our 10 best tips for smoothing over those last-minute glitches so that you can keep the celebration going with a perfect holiday smile....

Tim Hamilton Associated Building Inspectors of Florida Miami, Fla. Ready for His Close-Up “I found this squirrel in the attic posing for the camera.” Dan Schuerman Schuerman Inspections, LLC Cincinnati, Ohio What a Drip “Clever way to control a roof leak: String-to-bucket water collection system?” Kirk Bingenheimer B-Sure Inspections, LLC Charleston, S.C. Too Close for Venting “Do you think this water heater chimney vent is too close to the house, soffit, or window?...

Steps for Building a Birdhouse: 1. Size the Pieces Using a miter saw and the provided cut list, cut the 1x6 board and ¼-inch plywood pieces to size. Mark the center point along the top edge of the front and back walls. From the center point, clip each top corner at a 45-degree miter to create a peak. 2. Drill an Opening On the front board, make a mark centered on the width of the board 3½-inches from its peak....

Follow along as This Old House contributor Christopher Beidel, owner of Pernt, a handmade-furniture company in Brooklyn, shows you how to make this piece—as practical as it is pretty. Overview of How to Build a Compost Bench Timeline Day 1: Build the base and seat (Steps 2-10). Day 2: Make and install the backrest and arms (Steps 11-18). Steps for Making a DIY Compost Bench Step 1: Make the right-angle cuts On your miter saw, make the straight cuts for all the parts, according to the cut list....

Enter This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, with a plan for a size-it-to-your-space tool-storage bench that doubles as a work surface. Though it may look complicated, the construction couldn’t be simpler: Tom used plywood to build one large box and two smaller ones, fitted them with shelves, then placed them back-to-back and topped the assembly with doubled-up plywood. See how he and Amy built it using just a few basic tools and materials....

Overview for How to Build a Tree Bench Project timeline Friday: Make the bench’s template and size the sections. Saturday: Cut and lay out the seat boards, and make the leg assemblies. Sunday: Attach the seat boards to the leg assemblies, install the bench around the tree, and add the backrest and apron. Create a Template You’ll make the bench from six sections of equal size. Measure the tree’s diameter in inches at the seat’s height (16 to 18 inches)....

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